Knighthawks Continues to Amaze with Sixth Straight Win Defeating The Bandits at Home 1/20/23

Christopher Crane, Rochester Knighthawks Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©

Featured Image Photo Credit: M. Veluvolu

On Friday January 20, 2023 fans got to see the much anticipated faceoff between what some were calling a big brother versus little brother matchup as the Rochester Knighthawks (6-0) played host to the Buffalo Bandits (4-2) at the Blue Cross Arena. Both teams were playing for possession of first place in the Eastern Division and Rochester was also playing to keep their perfect record alive. Very early in the contest it would seem that the Bandits would have the game under control, instead once again Rochester’s net-minder Ryan Hartley who would make 45 saves on the night and the Knighthawks defense was able to slow down Buffalo’s offense in the second half. The Knighthawks offense was led by Ryan Smith (5g, 4a) who is only the third player in franchise history to record a five-goal game and he’d tie a career best with nine points on the night. Rochester’s offense was also led by Connor Fields (3g, 5a) who is Rochester’s leading scorer with 19 goals and sits in the top three goal scorers of the NLL. All of that would be enough to give Rochester a 15-12 win to remain the only undefeated team left and in sole possession of first place in the Eastern Division.

First quarter action saw Buffalo jump out to a 3-1 lead with the Bandits tallying a three-goal run before Rochester would get their first one of the night. Scoring for the Bandits were Brad McCulley (1g, 1a), Ian McKay (1g, 2a) and Dhane Smith (4g, 2a). Thomas Hoggarth (2g, 3a) notched Rochester’s lone tally of the first quarter.

The Bandits would extend their lead 4-1 when Josh Byrne (4g, 4a) would net his first of four on the night at the 1:18 mark of the quarter. Rochester would make it a 4-4 game and go on a three goal run from R. Smith netting the first two scores of the quarter with teammate Curtis Knight (1g, 3a) netting the third. Buffalo would take the lead back as Joel Tayler (1g, 1a) formerly known as “Joel Matthews” who is also a former Knighthawk would make it a 5-4 game after he was left all alone on the crease at the 10:51 mark of the quarter. Rochester tied it up once again 5-5 this time on a score from Fields for his first of three on the night. However, the Bandits would answer back with three straight scores to end the quarter giving Buffalo an 8-5 lead heading into halftime. Tallying the scores for Buffalo were Brandon Robertson (1g), Smith and Byrne.

The Knighthawks would outscore the Bandits 5-3 in the third which was huge on Rochester’s part as it allowed them to close the gap to one at the end of the frame. Tallying scores for Rochester would come from the likes of Smith who would account for two with teammates Fields, Matt Gilray (1g, 1a) and Holden Cattoni (3g, 4a) all tallying one score apiece. The Bandits would put up two more from Smith and Byrne netted Buffalo’s third score of the quarter and they’d end the quarter with a one goal lead 11-10.

The fourth quarter play was all Rochester as they would hold Buffalo to just one score late. The Knighthawks offense exploded for five scores total in the fourth. Helping in the Knighthawks late offensive surge were Fields, Smith, Hoggarth and Cattoni who would tally two one of which was a power-play marker in the quarter. Netting Buffalo’s lone score was Byrne with 1:47 on the ticker for his fourth on the night, but it wouldn’t be enough as Rochester would cruise to a 15-12 win over Buffalo.

STATS:
Buffalo Bandits—SOG 56; FO 24-31; PP 2-4; Saves 44; Sv% .733
Rochester Knighthawks—SOG 60; FO 7-31; PP 2-5; Saves 4; Sv% .804

NEXT UP:

The Rochester Knighthawks (6-0) will be back in action Friday January 27^th when they travel to Scotiabank Centre to take on the Halifax Thunderbirds (3-3), game time 6:00 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can see the game on ESPN+. Fans in Canada can catch the action on TSN.ca or the TSN app.

The Buffalo Bandits (4-2) will also be on the road as they travel to the Wells Fargo Center to take on the Philadelphia Wings (2-3) on Friday January 27^th, game time 7:00 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can see the game on ESPN+. Fans in Canada can catch the action on TSN.ca or the TSN app.

Buffalo also plays on Saturday January 28^th when they head to Nassau Coliseum to face the New York Riptide (0-4), game time 7:30 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can see the game on ESPN+. Fans in Canada can catch the action on TSN.ca or the TSN app.